Day 1
Arrive VIENTIANE

Upon arrival in Vientiane you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of your day is at leisure.

Vientiane, capital of Laos, located on the banks of the Mekong River, the city has a population of less than a million and is a true blend of east and west. French Colonial architecture sits side-by-side with gilded temples and due to its status amongst many travellers as Laos ‘2nd city’, you get to enjoy its wealth of highlights without the large crowds so often encountered in Luang Prabang.

Day 2
VIENTIANE; city highlights

Your morning is dedicated to seeing the capital. First up is a visit to Wat Sisaket, the only temple to be left intact after the Siamese invasion in 1828. Moving on to the Patuxai monument - also called Anousavari. Here, you can climb up on the roof for fantastic panoramic views. Continue on to That Luang, the holiest place in Laos, and Wat Simuang, the most popular and venerated temple in Vientiane. You can also visit Talat Sao, the morning market, for a bit of souvenir buying (silk and silver jewellery are good bets) and an insight into daily life for the people of Vientiane.

Complete your morning with a visit to the excellent COPE exhibition centre, highlighting the Lao people's continued day-to-day struggle with the unexploded ordnance as a result of heavy bombing campaigns during the Vietnam War era……..Having returned to the hotel, your afternoon is at leisure.

Day 3
Vientiane, Pakse, Champasak

Your morning is at leisure until your transfer to airport for your flight to Pakse, southern Laos. Upon arrival you will be met by your guide and driven to the fascinating pre-Angkorian ruins of Wat Phou, one of South-East Asia's most dramatically situated temple sites with superb views across the Mekong River. Designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2001, Wat Phou dates back to the 5th century, predating the famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Whilst much of the origins of Wat Phou are unclear, it is believed that the original temple was built by the Khmer Hindus who eventually made Angkor Wat their capital.

After some time exploring, transfer to Champasak a delightful Colonial riverside town with a relaxed vibe. Having checked in to your hotel, the remainder of your day is at leisure.

Day 4
CHAMPASAK, 4000 ISLANDS

After breakfast, cross over the Mekong River and drive south to Ban Hatsaikhone, where you’ll board a local boat for a tour of the 4000 Islands. Although some of the islands are technically just sand banks, there are still hundreds of scenic spots to enjoy.

By lunch time you’ll reach the picturesque island of Don Khone and the afternoon is spent exploring the island by bicycle, tracing the route of an old abandoned railway and admiring some of the old French Colonial buildings and the beautiful Liphi Waterfall.

Returning to your boat, head back to the mainland and the impressive Khone Phapheng waterfalls, one of the largest and most powerful waterfalls in Southeast Asia, just a few miles from the Cambodian border, before returning to Champasak

Day 5
CHAMPASAK, BOLAVEN PLATEAU

After an early breakfast, journey east across the Bolaven Plateau, passing the many plantations typical of those found in the region. Any visit to the plateau provides a refreshing break from the heat and allows you to observe the cultivation of rich coffee, tea, cardamom, bananas, and other crops that can be visited en route.

On arrival at Paksong you will be met by a specialist local guide for a unique experience: exploring the region away from the well-trodden tourist route, in a 1960’s-era Army jeep! Your first stop will be at a coffee plantation, and with your local guide hailing from a family of coffee growers you will get some great insight into the coffee process from bean to cup. There will be time for a coffee tasting session and lunch before continuing by jeep through the Bolaven Plateau. A stop will be made to visit a fascinating Souy ethnic minority village where western tourists are few and far between, and especially those arriving in an Army jeep!....Returning to the main road and travel to Sinouk Coffee Resort for overnight.

Day 6
BOLAVEN PLATEAU, PAKSE, LUANG PRABANG

After a leisurely breakfast, depart the resort and explore a couple of interesting minority villages: Ban Pong, an Alak village that boasts a sacrificial altar; and Ban Kokphung, a Katu village where they keep coffins under their houses. Continue on to the region’s famous Tad Lo waterfalls where there will be time for a short rest before driving back across the plateau to Pakse in time for your flight to Luang Prabang.

Upon arrival in Luang Prabang you will be met by your guide for the transfer to your hotel. The remainder of your day is at leisure.

Day 7
LUANG PRABANG

An option for early-risers is to rise before dawn to witness tak bat, or the giving of alms, to the lines of orange-robed monks leaving their pagodas to receive offerings of food from the residents of Luang Prabang. It’s an iconic sight and for many one of the highlights of their stay in Luang Prabang, and can be arranged on any early morning during your stay.

Your city circuit begins after breakfast at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum, which gives a good overview of the local history. The next section of the tour takes in some of the city’s temples, beginning with Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-reliefs, before continuing on to Wat Xieng Thong, perhaps the most photographed temple in Luang Prabang, and the unique Wat Visoun, known as ‘The Water Melon Stupa’ due to its shape. Your last visit of the morning is the excellent Arts and Ethnology Centre which will give you further insight into the ethnic mix and culture of Laos…..

In the afternoon visit the weaving and textile villages of Ban Xangkhong and Ban Xienglek before returning to town to visit a monk school. After some time chatting with the novice monks finish the day by climbing Mount Phousi, to enjoy the stunning views across Luang Prabang and the Mekong River as the sun sets.

Day 8
LUANG PRABANG; Living Lands Organic Farm

This morning drive out of Luang Prabang to the Living Lands Organic Farm where you will meet the local farming guide for an informative, but fun morning. During your time at the farm, you are invited to interact and experience each step of the rice harvest and gain an understanding of how the entire cultivation process works. It’s a very hands-on experience and you will experiment with the various tools used in the harvesting process. Before leaving you will have the opportunity to taste some traditional foods made from rice…….Return to Luang Prabang where the remainder of your day is at leisure.

Policies

Inclusions

•Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the programme.

•Lunches and dinners (as specified in the itinerary), or picnics where no suitable restaurant is available

•Boat trip wherever it has

•Government tax

Exclusions

•Visa

•International arrival & departure flights

•Domestic flights within Laos (on request)

•Meals, except as specified above.

•Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.

•Camera fees (if any)

•Peak-season/public holiday surcharge & compulsory meals to be advised at the time of booking.

•Insurance

Remarks

•The itinerary is flexible, depending on arrival or departure flights of passengers

•Ground operator reserved the right to amend or adjust itinerary to match with real situation

•The confirmation is subject to the availability at the time of booking

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